Washington Township planners to review townhouse project

August 01, 2012|By JENNIFER FITCH | waynesboro@herald-mail.com

WAYNESBORO, Pa. — A town house development near Walmart in Rouzerville, Pa., will be reviewed Monday, Aug. 13, at a Washington Township (Pa.) Planning Commission meeting.

The developers of New Forge Crossing are seeking final approval for 60 town houses for low- to moderate-income residents. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency approved $2 million in funding and another $1 million in tax credits for Woda Group LLC.

The planning commission is expected to make recommendations to the Washington Township Supervisors, who will make the final determination locally about the proposal.

Washington Township Manager Mike Christopher said Wednesday the development is proposed for approximately 12 acres accessed by an existing road that intersects with Washington Township Boulevard.

The road divides the Lowe’s and Walmart parking lots in the Rouzerville Commons shopping center.

“They have (proposed) a community center, a basketball court and a few other amenities,” Christopher told the township supervisors at their workshop meeting.

Supervisor Jeff Geesaman questioned why a school bus stop is on nearby Old Forge Road. He said he feels Washington Township Boulevard would provide a safer stop.

Waynesboro Area School District representatives already reviewed the stop, Christopher said.

“It’s not safe. That’s why I wanted two exits” for the development, Supervisor Elaine Gladhill said.

Engineers felt an entrance could not be created on Old Forge Road because of a curve there, Christopher said.

Construction on the $11 million development could start in mid-September and be finished within a year, Andrew Cohen, senior vice president of Woda Group, said in a previous interview.

Sidewalks will make the development walkable, and it will be well-suited for a family that wants to limit its driving, Cohen said.

“We think this is a unique opportunity because it’s adjacent to retail,” he said.

The planning commission meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the township offices off Welty Road.

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